Self-cleaning valve



Nove l, lmczll'lo G. M. KELLY SELF,` CLEANING VALVE Filed May 14, 1925J6 i WAL:

mw w Patentedq Nov. 1,1927. l

, UNITED sTATEs'PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. KIIE|LLY,.OFQ CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, OF SIXTY PER CENT TO PATRICK J. KELLY AND TI-IRTY PER CENT10 JOHN' F. KELLY, .BIO'JJH OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ANI) TEN PER CEN T T0FRANK H.'l T. POTTER, 0F

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SELF-CLEANING VALVE.-

Application led May 14, 1925. Serial No. 30,146.

This invention pertainsv to valves for 1 dbris .or sediment from fluidspassing'therethrough, but few if any provide any method or apparatus bywhich deposits upon the seat or seats of the valve or deposits upon anyother working part may be prevented or restructed in this manner isillustrated on pageI moved A few valves of the gate type have beendesigned with removable bushings or seats for the purpose of removal ofthe seat and the substitution of a new, seat when the old one is worn ordamaged. A valve con- 162-of Crane catalogue No. 51, June, 1923. Valveseats of this character may becleancd or renewed by removing an 'openingor by dismantling the valve for access tothe worn or damaged parts, butcleaning and renewing such part or parts is a very costly procedure'.This cost is involved not alone because of the labor involved, but alsobecause it may be necessary to shutdown the whole line served by thevalve during its repair. It is apparent that serious consequences couldeasily develop from such procedure. The 4invention hereinafter moreparticularly disclosed entirely obviates such" requirements andoccurrences while providing a uniquely elhcient construction at compara.

Vtively low cost of manufacture and operation.

`Another object 1s to vprovide a. valve y mechanism .in which' the valvef(in this instance, the valve gate) seat faces mayv be maintained freefrom sedimentary deposits andother dbris when the valve is open andregardless of the time during which the valve may remain open.

One object of my invention, therefore, is lto provide a' valve mechanismwhich in its operation will be `self-cleaning, preferably Aincluding forits purpose combination selfcleaning'seat and self-cleaning gate orvalve head members.

Another object is to provide a valve constructed in such a manner thatwear on the valve face sometimes known as cutting. or channeling causedby fluid and abrasive dbris passing thereacross when the valve is 'valvebody or its operating parts may be compensated, a construction whichwill increase 1ts normal useful life and a construction wherein theparts may be easily and readily replaced by like parts formedfrommaterials better adapted for other usages such as when the -valve isusedin an acid fluid line, should become apparent fromthe. details ofthe description and from the claims, and from the drawings in which Fig.1 is a diametral sectional elevation of one type of valve constructionmadein accJordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a part section taken at right angles to the view of' Fig. 1,certain f the valve parts being removed. i 'Y Fig. 3 is a transversesection taken 'on the line-3 3 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 4 is a similar section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The invent-ion is shown appliedv to a valve of the rising stem gatetype. A body portion 2 provided .with inlet and outlet openings 3 and 4-of which there may be'any suitable number, is formed to provide aninterior chamber and an outwardly lianged portion 6 forming a shoulder 7for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The liangedportion 6 isinteriorly threaded to receive aK correspondingly threaded flangedportion 8 of a bonnet 9 interiorly threaded as at 11 to receive threads12 formed on a -risin stem 13 passing centrally therethrough. e bonnet 9may be provided with the usual packing gland 14 and packing gland cap15, lwhile the stem 13 is provided withI a hand wheel TheA valve body 2isprovided with lugs 18,

19, 2O and 21, which project from the walls thereof to provide .recesses22,23, 24 and 26 .gradually decreasing in width downwardly Q2, neet/.ree

` described will seat. The lower edge 35 is arcuate as will be clearlyseen from Fig. 2 and is tapered as at 36 for a purpose also to behereinafter described. rlhe seat members are also formed with a recessedportion 37 and arcuately shaped, outwardly tapering portions 38providing a recess 39 open at its inner portions upper end and with lugportions 41 extending behind and adapted to rest upon the shoulder 7formed on the interior of the body 2 of the valve. A screw washer orgasket 42 which may be of other construction if preferred, is preferablyinterposed between the threaded portion 8 of the bonnet 9 and the topface-of the lug or projectino' portion 41 of the valve seat member 32.

uitably positioned upon the end of the stem 13 for upward and downwardmovements therewith are gate valve members 43 interiorly-recessed toreceive a ring spring member 44 adapted to urge these gate membersoutwardlyy so that their plane faces 46 will tightly contact with thesimilar plane faces of the valve seatvmembers 32. These gate members arepreferably formed with an arcuate recess 47 anda parallel projectingedge 48, th-e outermost point of which is preferablyconstructed toproject slightly beyond the plane of the surface 46, whileat their uppersides these members are tapered 0E as shown at 49 in Figs. 3 and 4.

It has sometimes been found preferable to aid the spring 44 in urgingthe respective gate members 43 outwardly into `contact with the valveseat members '32 by suppleinenting their action. For this purpose the ofthe gate members .are ta-r pered. as shown at 51 for wedging engagementwith a wedge lug 52 formed integrally with the bottom of the interior ofthe body 2. However, the lug 52 may be omitted or constructed in twoparts placed on .either side of the valve body as will be readilyunderstood.

In operation, assuming the valve to be in closed position as shown inFig. l, rotation of the stem by means of the hand wheel or other handoperating device, will raise the gates 43 and the arcuate projectingportions 48 will contact with the bevelled surfaces 36 of the valve seatmember and tend to urge the gates toward one another or toward the stemagainst the action of the spring ring 44, and at the same time thebevelledl'surfaces 49 of the gates will contact with the correspondinglybevelled portions of upper portion of the seat member. As the gates areraised further the edge '48 will scrape resiliently across the interiorface 34 of the seat member and the edgel 38 of the seat member willscrape resiliently across the face 46 of the gate member, removing anydeposits or dbris carried thereby, and upon its further upward movementthe faces 46 will ride into the depressed portions 39 of the valveseats, while the portions 48 of the gates will drop into the recesses 37of the seats. As will be apparent from the drawings, when the gates arefully raised their seat surfaces 46 will drop intothe depressed portions39 and since the surfaces 46 and 39 conform with one'another, they willcontact with one another over their entire areas andprevent'accumulation of dbris on either surface. The reverse movement ofthe stem will reverse the ope-rations just enumerated and a cleaningaction is afforded on the downward movement of `the .gates also. Thespring 44 will at all movements of the valve gates tend to urge themoutwardly into tight contact with the valve seats, and when the gatesare in their lowermost position insure a tight engagement with the seatanda tight engagement of the seat with the valve body. While in this`position the wedge or wedge lugs 52 form an additional sealing means.

As will be clearly apparent from the construction of the valve gates orclosure members 43 their arcuate lower edges when raised will almostinstantaneously uncover a relatively large portion of the inlet andoutlet openings in the valve seats, allowing any dbris which may haveaccumulated in the fluid-at the points of opening of these passagewaysto be dispersed over a relatively wide area with the firs-t inrush offluid therethrough and also permitting the water to flow in and out ofthe ports in a relatively large volume substantially instantaneously.This will prevent cutting or channeling action in the bottom edges ofthe valve gates so frequently an objection to other types of valves.This advantage of having a fluid iow over -practically the full surfacearea of the valve seat and valve .gate when the valve is partially openis but one of many features and advantages to be had with its 0peration.It is quick opening, self-cleansing, practically the whole interioroperating tions can be replaced without removal of the shell or body, alonger valve life with-low., cost 0f maintenance, contraction andeXpansion of the various members of the valve are adequatelycompensated, there are no primary parts with pockets in which sedimentmay collect where it is not desired and the valve body and parts may beso constructed that they can be used for acid iiuids or any otherunusual condition or requirement.

the

por-v HNI Many' additionaladvantages shouldl be readily' perceived,andsince various changes may be made in the construction andoperationwithout departure from the spirit of 5 my invention or the scope. of theappended claims ll do not wish to be limited to the general or specificconstruction shown and described.

l claim: v l. In a` valve, a body having inlet'and outlet ports, a valveseat for each of said ports, a valve stem, port closure members ony saidY stem, and a U-shaped spring partially embracing said stem and engagingone 0f said closure members for urging such member into contact with itsseat. I

2. ln a valve, a body having inlet and outlet ports, a removable valveseat for one of f said ports, a valve stem, a port closure mem- .zo beron said stem, and a U-shaped spring'par# tially'embracing said `stem andbetween said stem and said closure member for normally urging saidmember into contact with said seat.

3. ln a valve, inlet and outlet ports therein, a valve seat member forone of lsaid ports, a port closure member adapted to cover said seat,means for moving one of said members to cover and uncover said port, andmeans- 30 projecting from one of said members at all times toward theother lfor scraping contact across the face of the other said memberduring movement of either.

4. lin a valve, inlet and outlet ports, a 35 valve seat member for oneof said ports, a-nd a port closure for covering -said seat, said membershavingd cooperative seating surfaces, means for moving onevof saidmembers to cover and uncover said support, and a rib on the seat face.of each of said members for scraping the cooperative seating surface ofthel other during the movement of either. jn

5. l'n a va'lve, having inlet and outlet ports, a valve seat memberforone of said ports, a port closure -member for covering said seat,said members having cooperativeseating surfaces, means for moving one ofsaid members to cover and uncover said port, means projectingtransversely of the seating surface of each of said members toward theother for 'scraping the cooperative seating surface of the other uponmovement of either, and means for urging one .of said` members towardthe other.

6. lin a valve, having inlet and outlet ports, a valve seat member forone of said ports, a port closure member for covering'V said seat, saidmembers having cooperative seati0 ing surfaces, means for moving oneof-said ^members to cover` and uncover said port,

means secured to and projecting transversely of the seating surface olfeach of said members toward the other for scraping the co- 65\ operativesurface ofthe other lupon move-I ment of either, and resilient meanslfor urging one of said members toward the other.

7. ln a valve having a port, a removable valve seat member for saidport, a .port closure member for covering said seat, said members havingcooperative seating surfaces, means for moving one of said members tocover and uncover said port, means `on each of said members andprojecting toward the other for scraping the cooperative surface of theother upon either movement of either, and resilient means for urging oneof said' members toward the other.

8. In a valve in combination, a valve seat member, a valve head member,said members having cooperative contact surfaces and one of said membersbeing movable transversely across the contact surfaces of the othermember, andmeans operatively interposed between said members uponmovement pf said movablemember for scraping across one of said contactsurfaces to clean it.

9. ln a valve in combination, a valve seat member, a valve head member',said members having cooperative contact surfaces and one 0f said membersbeing movable back and forth across the other member transversely of thecontact surface of` the other, and means integral with the contactsurface of one of said members and adapted to be inter- .s g posedbetween said membersfor scraping across the Contact surface of the otherof said members when 'said members are moved rela-` tively to oneanother in either direction.

l0. ln a. valve in combination, a valve body, a valve seat .in saidbody, a valve head adapted'to engage said seat, means for respectivelyraising and lowering said headinto fand out of contact -,with said seat,means operatively interposed between said members upon movement of saidmovable member for scraping across one of said contact surfaces to cleanit, means for `resiliently urging said tra head andseat relativelytogether during raisi ing and lowering movements 'of said head,

and means integral with said body for positively urging said head whenlowered under pressure against said seat.

ll. ln a valve, a body provided with al port and a bonnet connection, avalve seat having an integral elongated -portion extending between saidseat and said bonnetcon-A nection, and 'means including a transverseshoulder integral witlithe elongated `portion ofthe seat' for removablysecuring the seat to thef body adjacent said `bonnet connections 12.. lna valve, a body having a port, a removable seat for said port andprovided with an integral projection thereon lat a portion spaced fromthe sea.t\surface, a shoulder on said body, and means for releasablysecuring said projection against said body shoulder.

13. n a valve, a body provided with a port, a removable seat member forsaid port,

said body having a transverse shoulder, said member having an integraltransverse shoulder cooperatively engageable with said body shoulder,and means removably securable to said body for removably securing saidshoulders together. f

14. ln a valve, a body having a port opening and a bonnet connection, aremovable valve seat tor said port movable transversely of said portinto and out of position with respect thereto, said seat having aportion extending away from the port toward said bonnet connection, aflange projecting laterally from said portion remote from said port, ashoulder in said bonnet connection cooperative with said liange, meansfor securing said flange and shoulder together, and means inv said body'for receiving and positioning said seat with respect to said port andfor wedging said seat against the body adjacent said port when said seatis moved transversely of said port into position.

l5. ln a valve, a body having an inlet port and an outlet port and avalve seat :tor each of said ports, a valve -i'or siinultaneouslyengaging both of said seats to close said ports, means for moving saidvalve transversely ot said ports into and out 'of alignment with saidseats, and a lil-shaped spring between said valve and moving meansnormally tending to urge said valve toward said seats transversely ofits opening and closing line ot' movement.

16.- in a valve, a valve gate, a valve seat having a port opening and anintegral portion extending away from said opening in the direction andtor substantially the full distance of tr-avel of said gate toward ortrom port closing position, means for moving said valve toward andfromport closing position, said portion having a surface adapted toconform to the whole surface ot the seat tace of the gate whereby toprotect the seat face of the gate from deposits and the like when inport open position, and means for holding said seat face orn the gateagainst said surface when said gate is in port open position.

ae/ima@ 17. ln a valve, a valve gate, a valve seat having a port openingand a port-ion extending away from said opening in the direction and forsubstantially the full distance of travel of said gate toward or from.port closing position, means for moving said valve toward and from portclosing position, said portion having a surface adapted to conform tothe marginal edge suace of the seat face ot' the gate whereby to protectthe seat surl'ace of the gate from deposits and the like when in a portopen position, and resilient means for holding said seat face of thegate against said surface when said gate is in a port open position.

18. ln a valve, a valve body having a port, a valve gate having a seatface, a seat for said port and cooperative with said gate, a protectiveseat for said gate seat face adjacent said port and'cooperative with theentire marginal portion of said seat itace when said gate is in fullport open position whereby to protect said gate seat face, and means forholding said gate seat ace in cooperative engagement with saidprotective seat when in. said position.

19. ln a valve, a valve body having a port, a valve gate having a seatface, a seat for said portand cooperative with said gate for closingsaid port, a protective seat for said gate seat face adjacent said portand cooperative with said seat face when said gate is `in a port openingvposition whereby to protect said gate seat face, and means forresiliently pressing said gate seat ace into cooperative engagement withsaid protective seat when in said position.

20. ln a valve, a body having inlet and outlet ports therein, a valveseat member Jfor one of said ports, a port closure member adapted tocover said seat, and means on said closure member cooperative with saidseat and adjacent said seat cooperative with said closure member formoving said closure member from said seat to spac/eJ the same apartequally about their contact surfaces.

GEURGE M. KELLY.

all'

